E\ii 

■ F7 

(1811) 



E 199 
.F7 
Copy 1 




WASHINGTON AND "CENTINEL X." 



By Wohthix(;t()X C'hauncey Ford. 




reprinted from 
"The Pennsylvania Magazine op History and Biography, 

m 

January, 1899. 



m EXCNANE 
Mew Vw-Kl^tlctibrary 

JUN 87 ini2 



N. 



WASHINGTON AND "CENTINEL X." 



[That Washington was in late life sensitive to attacks from anony- 
mous writers in the press is well known, and a rather theatrical account 
of his rage on one such occasion has come from no less a witness than 
Jefferson. This sensitiveness was no late development, but is to be met 
with when Washington was the colonel of the Virginia regiment in 
1756. The small body of men then collected for the defence of the col- 
ony's frontiers must have been of a stuff to try the temper of the young 
commander. Enjoying small pay, stationed in a wilderness, expected 
to cover a territory which could not have been covered by three times 
their numbers, and subject to little attention from the Governor and 
Burgesses, it is not strange to find complaints upon the score of disci- 
pline as well as on the failure of the troops to do all that was expected 
of them. Rumors of drunkenness and immorality, of gross neglect of 
duty, and of a general disregard of military propriety became common, 
and finally attracted the attention of the Governor. No blame was 
attached to Washington personally, but he was informed of the rising 
complaints and admonished. Finally the criticisms culminated in an 
anonymous communication to the Virginia Gazette, signed " Centinel 
X," and Washington was so touched that he proposed to resign. His 
leading officers threatened to throw up their commissions, and were 
only restrained by the soothing promises of the Governor and Burgesses 
to make a public declaration of confidence in them. 

I was unable for many years to discover a copy of " Centinel X," as the 
Virginia Gazette is very rarely found in our collections, and only a few vol- 
umes exist in the Virginia State Library. Fortunately, the article was 
copied into the Pennsylvania Journal, and I reproduce it with other and 
unpublished material bearing upon it. The letter from Richard Bland, 
though written more than a year before the controversy came to a head, 
in all probability called out from Washington the statement of facts used 
in the article attributed to Bland by Washington. I do not know whether 
this article appeared in any newspaper, and this copy is taken from a 
manuscript in the Washington Papers. The remonstrance of the offi- 
cers is obtained from the same source. It is known that Washington 
sent ten shillings to his brother Augustine, " for publishing an answer 
to the 10th centinel," but I am unable to trace the answer.] 



2 WasMyigton and " Centinel X." 

BLAND TO WASHINGTON. 

" Williamsburg, 7 June, 1755. 
" Dear Sir : 

"I have the pleasure of receiving your letter by Mr. 
Gist ; and I assure you I should look upon it as a singular 
felicity if I could contribute towards perfecting any scheme 
for the advantage of my country : my endeavors, so far as 
my influence will reach shall never be wanting. I had the 
mortification of finding the majority of our House against 
the most vigorous measures for efi*ectually putting a stop to 
the French attempts upon our Frontiers : But tho numbers 
carried it against my opinion, I am not yet convinced that 
an attack upon Fort Du Quesne, or a lodgment near that 
place, with a sufiicient force so as to keep them in per- 
petual alarm, is impracticable. This is my favorite scheme, 
and I should be very glad to hear of its having your appro- 
bation. 

" "We have had a dispute with the Council who flung out 
our first bill of supply by an equal division of 5 on each 
side, upon the question being put for a third reading. This 
strange conduct under our present situation gave our House 
great resentment. They voted a severe resolve against the 
Council, & immediately ordered the same bill under a dif- 
ferent title to be bro't in, which was passed in two days, and 
sent again to the Council, who gave their concurrence to it 
upon more mature consideration, so that you are to have 
this year 1272 men, including non-commissioned officers to 
compose your regiment ; and I do not at all doubt but you 
will do everything in your power for the advantage of your 
country that can be done by so small a force ; & I must 
heartily wish you success in all your undertakings. 

" Another bill has passed our House for laying out £5000 
in a proper cargo of goods to carry on a trade with the In- 
dians for the public benefit under the direction of Col. Peter 
& Wm. Randolph, Mr. Cary, Mr. Walker & myself. This 
bill is now before the Council. If it passes into a law, we 
shall I believe, engage with Mr. Gist, as Factor, to carry it 
on : Your recommendation of him will have all proper 



Washington and " Centinel X" 3 

weight with me, and I am persuaded with the other trustees 
and directors. 

"As I have some tho'ts of writing an account of our 
transactions which I desire to communicate to public view 
in order to wipe off all reflections from my country and the 
several persons concerned in the conduct of our military 
enterprizes so far as they can be justified, I shall take it as 
a particular mark of friendship if at your leisure hours, if 
you have any, you would send me short heads of such things 
relative to the French invasion with the dates when they 
happened as you judge most interesting and proper for such 
a work. I will speak the truth with boldness, and I hope 
with approbation from every honest and good man, amongst 
whom I assure you without flattery, I place you in the first 
rank. 

" I am, dear Sir, your most &c. 

"Richard Bland. 

" If I have the pleasure of hearing from you, please to 
direct to me at Jordan's, in Prince George County." 

" THE VIRGINIA CENTINEL, NO. X. 

" ' Quis metus, 6 nunquam dolituri, 6 semper inertes 
Tyrheni, guce tanta animis ignavia venit ? — 
Quo ferrum f quidve hcec gerimus tela irrita dextris ? 
At non in Venerem segnes, nocturnaque bella ; 
Aut, ubi curva choros indixit tibia Bacchi, 
Expectare dapes, et plence pocula mensce, 
Hie amor, hoc studium ' ViK. 

" The Profession of Soldiers, Especially at such a Time as 
this, is not only noble, but benevolent; and worthy at once 
of universal Honour and Gratitude. They are the Guar- 
dians of their Country, and all that is inclined [included ?] 
in that important "Word. And therefore, their Merit should 
not be invidiously depreciated ; their Foibles maliciously ex- 
aggerated ; or their Conduct censured by Chimney corner 
Politicians, who lie sneaking at Home, in inglorious Ease, 
and know not their Circumstances, or the Reasons upon 



4 Washington and " Centinel X." 

which thej Act. While their Character is tolerable, and 
they in any Measure answer the End of their Profession, 
their Names should be treated with the utmost Tenderness 
and Respect. 

" ' But Soldiers differ; some will shed their Blood. 
And some drink Bomho ^ — for their Country's Good, 
Some in the Field will nobly risque their Lives ; 
Some Hero like, will swear, or play at Fives. 
Some shew themselves the genuine Sons of Mars; 
Some brave in Venus'' or in Bacchus' Wars 
Can shew their lecherous and drunken scars.' 

" No Profession in the World can secure from Contempt 
and Indignation a Character made up of Vice and De- 
bauchery; and no Man is obliged to treat such a Character 
as sacred. When raw Novices and Rakes, Spendthrifts and 
Bankrupts, who have never been used to command, or who 
have been found insufficient for the Management of their 
own private affairs, are honoured with Commissions in the 
Army ; when Men are advanced according to Seniority, the 
Interests and influence of Friends, &c. and not according to 
Merit; when the common Soldiers are abused, in a fit of 
Humour or Passion, or through an Ostentation of Authority ; 
and in the mean Time, perhaps, tolerated or connived at, 
in practices really worthy of Correction ; when the Militia 
Men are brow-beat and discouraged in every noble atchiev- 
raent, as claiming a Share with the Soldiery in their Mo- 
nopoly of Honour ; when the Officers give their Men an 
Example of all Manner of Debauchery, Vice and Idleness; 
when they lie sculking in Forts, and there dissolving in 
Pleasure, till alarmed by the Approach of the Enemy, who 
could expect to find them nowhere else; when instead of 
searching out the Enemy, way laying and surprising them, 
obstructing their Marches, and preventing their Incursions, 
they tempt them by their Security and Laziness, to come in 
quest of them and attack them in their Fortifications — 

^ This word was more frequently written bumbo. It was a liquor com- 
posed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg. 



Washington and " Centinel X." 5 

When this is the Case, how wretchedly helpless must a 
jJs'ation be ? What useless Lumber, what an Encumbrance, 
is the Soldiery ; 

" 'Conscius ipse de se jwrtat omnia did.' 

"I would by no Means make the Uvent the Standard by 
which to judge the Measures taken, though this be undoubt- 
edly the Standard of the Crowd. Successful Rashness will 
never fail of popular Applause, and unfortunate good Con- 
duct will never escape Censure. But when nothing brave 
is so much as attempted, but very rarely, or by Accident, or 
for necessary Self defence ; when Men whose Profession it 
is to endure Hardships, and encounter Dangers, cautiously 
shun them, and suffer their Country to be ravaged in their 
very Neighbourhood ; then, certainly, Censure cannot be 
silent ; nor can the Public receive much Advantage from a 
Regiment of such dastardly Debauchees. 

" ' Sliew me one scar character'd on their skin : 

Men's Flesh preserv'd so whole but seldom win.' Shakes. 

" Men of V^irtue and true Courage can have no Heart to 
enlist, and mingle in such a Crowd. And the few of that 
Character, that may be among them, are in Danger of 
catching the general Contagion ; or of being damped and 
mortified at the Sight of such Scenes of Vice, Extravagance 
and Oppression. 

^^ Horace, who knew the Estate of the all-conquering 
Roman Army, in the Period of its highest Glory, and most 
illustrious Victories, will teach us the Discipline proper for 
Soldiers. 

" ' Our hardy Youth should learn to bear 
Sharp Want, to win the warlike Steed, 
To hurl the well directed Spear, 
With pointed Force, and bid the Parthian bleed. 
In War's illustrious Dangers bold, 
Inur'd to Summer's Heats, and Winter's Cold.' 

"But it seems the Delicacy of modern Soldiers cannot 
bear such hardy Discipline. Their Ease and Pleasure must 



6 Washington and " Centinel X." 

not be disturbed by the Fatigues and Dangers of the Field 
or Woods. 

" ' Their Country calls ; and see ! the Heroes run 
To save her — if the Game or Dance is done.' 

" Luxury and Sensuality have unmanned many an Army, 
and enslaved or ruined many flourishing Cities and King- 
doms. Let me enumerate a few Instances, for the Warning 
of surviving Nations. — The first great Empire of the World, 
viz. the Assyrian, owed its Destruction entirely to the Lux- 
ury of its Prince, Sardanapalus : an effeminate Creature, 
that never went out of his Palace ; but spent all his Time 
in the Company of Women. Feasting, rioting, and all 
manner of sensual Indulgencies were his daily Employ. 
At Length his Generals cut him off in the Midst of his De- 
baucheries, and overturned the Empire. — Babylon, the 
strongest City, perhaps, that ever was built upon Earth, was 
taken in the Night by Surprise, while the King, his Wives 
and Concubines, with a Thousand of his Lords, were ca- 
rousing in a Debauch, unapprehensive of Danger. — The 
Overthrow of the Persian Monarchy, and the vast Army 
of Darius, by an Handful of hardy Veterans under Alex- 
ander the Great, is another striking instance of the fatal 
Effects of Luxury. — But who would have thought that 
Alexander himself, with such an Example before his Eyes, 
would have split upon this Rock? Yet we are told by 
Justin, ' That he degenerated into Luxury and Vice of the 
Persians, whom, by Means of that very Luxury, he had 
overcome — that he suffered his Army to Debauch themselves 
in the same manner — that afterwards he gave himself up to 
the most unkingly Cruelty against his own Friends, one of 
whom he murdered for expressing himself a little freely 
concerning his Faults.' — At Length, degenerating into im- 
moderate Intemperance and Drunkenness, he died suddenly 
in the Midst of a Debauch. A imel>/ Death for the World ! 
For had his Life been prolonged, he would soon have be- 
come a mere Nero or Caligula. Whether he was poisoned 
by some of his Nobles, whom he had offended by his Cruel- 



Washington and " Centinel X." 7 

ties, as some Writers affirm ; or whether his Death was the 
Effect of Drunkenness, as others assert, comes to the same 
Purpose; that he fell a Sacrifice to his own Luxury and 
Vice. — The Euins of Tarentum are also a Monument of the 
same melancholy Truth. Having imprudently entered into 
a war with the Romans, which so effeminate a People knew 
not how to conduct, they called King Pyrrhus to manage 
it for them ; but they soon began to murmur and exclaim 
against him, because, in Order to qualify them for War, he 
had established an exact military Discipline, and driven 
them from their Carousals, to the Fatigues and Dangers of 
the Field. Some even quitted the City, thinking it to be an 
intolerable Restraint not to be permitted to live the same 
idle and voluptuous Life, while they were engaged in War 
with a powerful Enemy, as they used to indulge themselves 
in Times of Peace and Prosperity. The War ended in 
their total Overthrow, as might be expected. The City of 
the Sybarites was so populous, as to be able to raise an 
Army of 300,000 Men. Their Luxury and Dissolution of 
Manners arrived at an almost incredible Height. They 
employed themselves in nothing but Banquets, Games, Par- 
ties of Pleasure and Carousals. Publick Rewards were 
bestowed on those, who gave the most magnificent Enter- 
tainments; and even to such Cooks of Genius, as were best 
skilled in the important Arts of making Improvements in 
the dressing of nice Dishes, and inventing new Refinements 
to tickle the Palate. They carried their Delicacy to the 
monstrous Length of sending out of the City all manner of 
noisy Artificers, as Blacksmiths, Carpenters, &c. and all the 
Cocks, that their downy Slumbers might not be disturbed 
by any Noise. This unbounded Luxury crumbled them 
into Factions ; and at Length made them an easy Prey to a 
small Army of the Crotonians. — The Application of these 
Pieces of History is easy ; but 



Periculosce plenum opus alece 

Tracto. ' 

" L. & V. 



8 Washington and " Centinel X" 

From The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser^ 
November 4, 1756. (William Bradford.) 

" Officers of the Virginia Eegiment to Lieut, Colo Stephen, 

Commandant at Fort Cumberland, 6 October, 1756. 
" Sir, 

" To our no small Astonishment we (last night) perus'd 
a Paper in the Virg"* Gazette intitled the Centinel N : X. 
The Contents of which are so scandalous and altogether so 
unjust, that we think it a Dut}^ incumbent on us who have 
the least Regard for our Honor or Reputation to resent such 
base Treatment in the strictest Manner. Therefore (upon 
mature Consideration) we have unanimously agreed to apply 
to you for Redress ; firmly declaring (tho at present for the 
great and just Regard we have for Coll" Washington and 
yourself, join'd to the Duty we owe to our King in Defend- 
ing as much as it is in our Power His Colony of Virginia 
to which we belong) we do with the greatest exactness obey 
the Orders of our Superior Officers. But unless we have 
ample Satisfaction for these so groundless and barb'rous 
Aspersions, we are one and all (at this Garrison) fully de- 
termin'd to present our Commissions to the Governor (as in 
that Paper it is hinted) [which are ?] given to a Reg* of das- 
tardly Debauchees; and desire that you will inform His 
Honor we expect that he will provide a Sett of Men for the 
Service, that will better answer the expectations of Our 
Countrey and of himself; we say Himself, believing The 
Printer wou'd never have dar'd to insert such a Paper in 
His Gazette without His previous knowledge or Consent, 
in either of which cases He must have believ'd the Censures 
therein to be just. 

"You, Sir, may therefore assure Him, we are resolv'd to 
obey as Officers no longer than the twentieth day of No- 
vember next, unless we have as Publick Satisfaction, as the 
Injury receiv'd. In which Time His Honor may (we imagine) 
procure Gentlemen to do that Duty, a Denomination point 
blank contrary to that which the Centinel has given US. 

" We are heartily sorry to be laid under the necessity of 
being so free with you but hope the Occasion will be a suf- 



Washington and " Centinel X" 9 

ficient excuse for our Behaviour; when you must be sensi- 
ble of the Abuse not only Put on Us, but the Whole Regi- 
ment by this Author, wherein we are charg'd — Laziness, 
Idleness, Drunkeness and Barbarity w'' all manner of Vice. 
" When so far from that it is notorious that Virginia can- 
not furnish so great a Number of Men, that are more the 
Reverse A Character we are very Loath to give Ourselves; 
were We not oblig'd thereto by the circumstances of the 
present Case, which require that we shou'd justifie Our- 
selves to the Neighbouring Colonies, amongst whom we 
make no Doubt we are by this Time become a common 
Topic of Derision and Ridicule a Favor we are to thank 
Our Goodly Country Men for. 

" We are. Sir, with the greatest Respect, 

" Your most obedient Humble Servants." 

ARTICLE ATTRIBUTED TO BLAND. 

" ' Quilibet Nan/arum victorumque tranquillo Mari gubernare potest ; ubi 
oria soiva tempestas est, ac tiirbato Mari rapitur Vento Navis, turn Viro et 
gubernatore opus est.' Liv. L. 24 N. 8. 

" Sir, 

" I give you many Thanks for your Observations on the 
Dispute which is likely to arise between the Virginia Centi- 
nel and the Officers of the Forces employed on our Fron- 
tiers. But you must permit me to tell you that the Reason 
you give to persuade me the Centinel has good Grounds for 
what he advances, appears to me not to carry that Conviction 
with it, which most Things do, you have been used to com- 
municate to me. 

" I do, indeed approve very much of the Centinel's Vigil- 
ancy ; and am convinced he advances nothing, but what he 
thinks is right, and for the public Good ; but yet, he cer- 
tainly judges from the appearances of things, and not from 
the things themselves. 

" I confess I have a very good Opinion of most of the 
Officers: they have given sufficient Proofs of their Resolu- 
tion in their Country's Cause; and their moral Characters, I 
must believe are unexceptionable. But opinion shall never 



10 Washington and " Centinel X." 

influence my Judgment; I will examine Facts, and from 
them discover Truths, which the Centinel may not have 
adventured to; if he had, I am certain, he would have set 
them forth to the public view in much more proper and 
lively Colors, than I can pretend to do. 

" If what I may say should give Offence to any, for I give 
you free Liberty to communicate it, tell them, that I have 
the Honour to be a British Subject, and, under that glorious 
Character, enjoy the Privileges of an Englishman, one of 
which is to examine with Freedom, our public Measures, 
without being liable to the Punishments of French Tyr- 
anny; and, if I think proper, to expose those public Er- 
rors which have had to[o] long a Course, and which have 
been blindly embraced by many, as the most true Opinions. 
Be that as it will, you are my Friend, and in that Quality, 
I am going to tell you, ingenuously, my Thoughts of the 
present Conjunctures, so far as they concern my dear 
Country. 

" And I pretend to shew you, as clear as the Day, that 
the unhappy Situation of our public Affairs, is not to be 
imputed to the Persons, to whom the Executive Power 
of the Government is committed nor to the Officers ap- 
pointed to command upon our Frontiers; but that it arises 
from another Cause ; a Cause which I really am unwilling 
to name; but which the Truth forces me, not to conceal. 

" You must excuse me, if I remind you of several Trans- 
actions, with which you are acquainted, but which I am 
obliged to recapitulate, that I may give you a just and 
honest Resolution to this Controversy. 

" And you who are so well acquainted with History, know 
that from the Reign of Lewis the XlVth., the French have 
been particularly attentive to gain the Superiority of the 
English, in North America; and have been constantly 
flinging men into Canada & Louisiana. 

" Some Writers, perhaps of no great Esteem in other 
Respects, pointed out with a kind of phrophetic Spirit, the 
fatal Consequences of this Conduct to the British Planta- 
tions, But they were not regarded ; nor was any Notice 



Washington and " Centinel X" 11 

taken of the French Designs 'til about three Years ago; 
when the Governor received a Letter from the Earl of 
Holderness one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of 
State, informing him of these Designs, and giving him par- 
ticular Instructions how to conduct himself. 

" In Consequence of these Instructions, the Governor 
sent out Major Washington, to discover whether the French 
had made any Encroachments on this Colony ; and, if they 
had, to desire them to withdraw; and calling the General 
Assembly, he laid before them the Earl of Holderness's 
Letter, and demanded from the Burgesses, such Supplies 
as would enable him to put the Royal Instructions efiectu- 
ally into Execution ; but this Information was treated as 
Chimerical, and without Foundation, and the Burgesses 
peremptorily refused to grant any supplies. 

" Major Washington returned with a Letter from the 
French commandant, in which he declared, he had taken 
Possession of the Lands on the Ohio ; and was determined 
to hold them for his Master the French King. The Gov- 
ernor laid this Letter before the Burgesses, and desired with 
great Earnestness, such Assistance as would enable him to 
frustrate the Attempts of the French, now become visible, 
and apparent. But he could obtain only £10,000, which 
was put under the Direction of a Committee, the Bur- 
gesses not being willing to entrust the Administration with 
the Disposition of it. 

" With this Supply, between 3 and 4 hundred men were 
raised under the command of Colonel Fry ; but, upon his 
Death, the Command was given to Major Washington who 
was made a Colonel, and conducted the Expedition with 
Courage and resolution; but, being attacked, on his 
March, by above 900 French and Indians, he was overlDorn 
by Numbers ; and tho' he lost the Day, he acquired the Char- 
acter of a good Oificer, and a brave Soldier ; and, with the 
other Officers, received the Public N'otice of their Country 
for their gallant Behaviour. 

" This Defeat obliged the Governor to demand fresh Sup- 
plies, and the Burgesses granted £20,000, under the Direc- 



12 Washington and " Centinel X." 

tioii of a Committee. With this Sum about 500 Men were 
raised, to reinforce General Braddock, who was arrived from 
Eng]and, with a Body of British Troops to the Assistance 
of the Colony. 

"That General, being attacked, by the French, in his 
Passage over the Monongehala, was defeated. The Vir- 
ginians in this Action fought like Lions, and behaved with 
prodigious Valour; they bravely stood the severest Fire 
from the Enemy; and after the Flight of the British Regu- 
lars, brought oiF the wounded General, who would other- 
wise have fallen into the most barbarous and savage Hands. 
Colonel Washington, acted as Aid de Camp to the General, 
and distinguished himself very remarkably ; and with the 
other Officers, surviving this bloody Carnage, received, a 
second time peculiar Tokens of Regard from the General 
Assembly. 

" This Defeat flung the whole Colony into the utmost 
Consternation, which was increased by Parties of the Enemy 
committing the most cruel and horrid Ravages upon the 
Frontiers, which were left defenceless by Colonel Dunbar, 
who retiring with the Remains of the British Troops, made 
all possible Expedition to get into Winter Quarters. 

" And now, that noble Ardour, which ought to have in- 
flamed every breast with Resentment and Indignation 
against the inhuman Invaders of our Country ; that Zeal, 
which ought to have animated every Patriot Spirit to revenge 
the Robberies, Plunderings, Massacres, Burnings and Rapes 
with which the Frontiers were filled, were not to be found. 
Most Men were agitated with unaccountable Terrors ; all 
Thoughts of an offensive War were laid aside ; Fort du 
Quesne was looked upon as an impregnable Fortress : And 
no Considerations could prevail with the Majority of the Bur- 
gesses to grant more than £40,000 under the same Direc- 
tions as the former Supplies, for subsisting 1200 Men, to act 
upon the Defensive only. And so entirely had this Panic 
taken Possession that the Government was restrained from 
marching any Part of the Militia or causing them to be 
marched, more than five miles beyond where the Inhabi- 



Washington and " Centinel X" 13 

taiits of this Colony shall be settled on the Western Fron- 
tiers. Nor could a Proposition, sent from New York for 
an Union of the Colonies against the French, which the 
Governor communicated to the Burgesses, divert them from 
their favorite system. They refused to be concerned in this 
Union, and employed their whole Attention to secure the 
Country on the Eastern side of the Allegany Mountains 
by a Chain of Forts from Cape Capon to Mayo River. 

" From this short Detail of our public Transactions, for 
the Truth of which I appeal to the Burgesses Journals, and 
to the Acts that have passed at the several Sessions of the 
General Assembly since November, 1753, the Cause of the 
present unhappy Situation of our public Affairs, so far as 
they concern the French Invasion, may, in my Opinion, be 
easily discovered. 

" In a British Government, where the Laws controul even 
the Sovereign's Power, it is impossible that military Enter- 
prizes can be carried on with Advantage without a proper 
Assistance from those who are intrusted with the Disposi- 
tion of the People's Money. If the Supplies, necessary to 
give Life and Vigour to our Arms, are refused or granted 
with too much Frugality, we must never expect to succeed 
against an Enemy subject to a despotic Prince, who can 
dispose of the Lives and Fortunes of his Subjects as he 
pleases. 

" The Government was convinced of this, and in order to 
facilitate the new Scene that was just opening upon us, was 
desirous to act with Resolution and Magnanimity; but this 
was not in their Power, without proper Supplies. Supplies 
were indeed granted, but with so frugal a Hand, and in so 
peculiar a Manner as not to answer any kind of Purpose. 

" Ten thousand Pound was first given to dispossess a 
politic and powerful People, who were perfecting a favorite 
Scheme, they had been planning for more than half a Cen- 
tury. This sum was found insufiicient and 20,000 pound 
was granted; but this would not do; the Enemy was too 
strong and too well secured to be beaten out, by such a 
trifling supply ; then only 40,000 pound could be obtained 



14 Washington and " Centinel X" 

to raise 1200 Men, tlio' General Braddock had just been 
beaten with more than twice that number. The Men raised 
upon this Supply could not restrain the Ravages of the 
Enemy. Then Forts were thought of, which have proved 
an ineifectual Barrier against the Enemy, but will be a cer- 
tain Means [of] impoverish[ing] the People. Thus have we 
gone on blundering, 'til we are become the Derision of the 
Enemy, and seem to be sunk in Oblivion, and forgot by our 
Mother Country. 

" The Government cannot be blamed ; whoever reads the 
Speeches to the several General Assemblies since the begin- 
ning of these Troubles, must be of this Opinion. I am no 
Flatterer, and want no favours; but the Truth shall always 
prevail with me. 

"The Officers are as little culpable; what can they do? 
Are not the greatest Part of the Forces under their Com- 
mand, composed of the Militia drafted out of the Northern 
Counties, and are they not restrained from marching more 
than five miles beyond where the Inhabitants of this Colony 
shall be settled to the "Westward ? Can they be compelled 
to march beyond these Limits ? The Law is plain that they 
cannot, and if the Officers attempt to lead them further, the 
men may legally refuse to obey. Is it not evident, that as 
the Inhabitants abandon the Frontiers, and it is well known 
that they abandon them very fast, the Officers are more and 
more circumscribed in their Boundaries ? Besides the 
Forts are to be garrisoned, and consider, I beseech you, the 
Figure 1200 Men must make, dispersed upon so extensive 
a Frontier as ours is. Nothing in my Opinion can, nothing 
ought to be expected from the Officers under such a Regu- 
lation. The French and their Indians are secured in Forts 
at a great Distance ; those, of them, who commit Such 
Havock amongst us, are small Parties, sent out, like "Wolves 
from their lurking Dens, and are scarce ever to be met with ; 
when they are, I think, we have no Reason to accuse our 
Officers of Pusilanimity. In short, can it be possible, that 
Officers who have, heretofore, behaved with remarkable 
Courage and Resolution; who have marched over vast 



Washington and " Centinel X" 15 

Mountains ; supported with invincible Patience, the rudest 
Fatigues; and shewed the most intrepid Valour in the 
greatest Dangers, and the warmest Desire to preserve their 
Country; I say, can these Officers so far forget their Duty 
and themselves, as to sacrifice that Character, they have so 
justly acquired ; that solid Glory, that results from Noble 
Actions, to idle Entertainments ; extravagant Gaming, and 
glittering Pageantry. Such a Reflection is too improbable, 
and too ill-natured to gain Credit even with the most invid- 
ious and malevolent; and I am certain it can make no im- 
pression on you, who think so justly and are not to be 
influenced by party Prejudice. 

" Thus have I, my Friend, given you my Thoughts upon 
our public Affairs. The Prospect is gloomy ! the Errors 
great! but I hope, not irretrievable; a Field of Glory is 
yet open to our View if we will but enter upon it, and play 
the Men ; if we will behave as becomes true Sons of Britain, 
we may recover our reputation and deliver our Country. 

" The Earl of Loudoun, like another Fabius, is watching 
the Motions of the French to the Northward ; and all the 
Northern Colonies are in Motion to assist him, and shall 
that Colony which calls itself^ the most dutiful and loyal, 
which has been so frequently fired with Resentment and 
Indignation at the Encroachments and Depredations of the 
French ; and offered the Lives and Fortunes of its People 
to defend his Majesty's just Rights; shall the Eldest and, I 
am persuaded, the richest Sister of all the British Colonies, 
sit supine and negligent; and like a proud Boaster be only 
big in Words, while her younger Sisters are gaining Laurels 
in the Field, and Credit and Reputation with their common 
Sovereign? No, my Friend! let it not be said; but let 
yours and every Patriot Spirit be roused and really fired 
with Resentment and Indignation against the cruel Ravages 
of their Country. Let us not be persuaded, that the French 
have any Pretence of Title to the Lands which they have 

^ See the addresses of the Houses of Burgesses in answer to the Gov- 
ernors' speeches at the opening of the several General Assemblies from 
the year 1753. 



16 Washington and " Centinel X." 

so unjustly taken possession of; but let us give freely and 
liberal]}', such supplies, as will enable the Government to 
act with Spirit and Resolution, and at least to attack, with 
Success, Fort Du Quesne; that Source from whence all our 
present Evils flow. By a vigorous Effort, on this Side early 
in the Spring, we shall oblige the French to divide their 
Forces, and thereby give real Assistance to Lord Loudoun, 
by preventing them from turning their whole Force against 
him, or, we shall be certain of Success, against that Fort, 
which will be, to this Colony, an invaluable Acquisition. 
Let us leave the Government to act as it will ; at least, let 
us try them for one Year ; Let us shake off" all Diffidence & 
Suspicion, and take off" all Restrictions. Let their Power 
over the Militia be as extensive as the Service requires, 
and let them, if they think proper, offend and distress the 
Enemy. Believe, ray Friend, the Operations of War are 
not to be conducted as common AflTairs. Generals and 
Commanders of armies must be left to act as they find it 
most expedient for their Country's Interest. These few 
Observations will, I doubt not, have their proper Weight 
with 3'ou, as they come from your Friend, and what per- 
haps may have a greater Influence in this Case, one of your 
Electors. Your good Sense will improve upon them, and, 
I hope, at your next Meeting we shall hear of nothing, but 
a laudable Emulation, to discharge your Duty to your King 
and Dear Bleeding Country, with Honour, Reputation and 
Disinterestedness. 

" I am, very Sincerely, 
" Sir, 

" Your very affectionate Servant 

"Philo patri^."^ 

^ Endorsed by Washington : " Written, it is supposed, by Col" Rich* 
Bland, 1756." 




\ 



LIBRflRV OF CONGRESS 

smiiii 

011 696 344 9 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




01 1 696 344 9 



HoUinger Corp. 
pH8.5 



